The FBI has launched a new publicity campaign in an attempt to flush out fugitive Massachusetts mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger.
The campaign consists of a 30-second public service announcement that began airing Tuesday on TV stations around the country. The PSA, however, is not about Bulger. Instead, the bureau has targeted his long-time girlfriend, Catherine Elizabeth Greig.
Greig, 60, is wanted for harboring Bulger, a Top Ten Fugitive who has been on the lam for more than 15 years. Bulger, 81, was the alleged leader of the Winter Hill Gang, whose members have included notorious Boston gangsters Howie Winter, James McLean and Stephen Flemmi.
In 1995, Bulger was indicted for federal racketeering and for 19 murders. Bulger and Greig, a one-time dental hygienist, fled before authorities could take him into custody. The couple is believed to have gone to Louisiana and then Chicago before going overseas. The last credible sighting of them was nearly 10 years ago, in London.
The PSA is designed to make the public aware of Greig's relationship with Bulger and her physical characteristics, the FBI said.
"The FBI believes that publicizing Catherine Grieg's photo and characteristics among her contemporaries will lead to a tip about her whereabouts and, ultimately, to the arrest of Bulger," said Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Division.
The PSA will air in 14 cities that Greig or Bulger have ties to. The cities are located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Television progams that have a high percentage of female viewers in Greig's demographic will air the PSA. The FBI said it is targeting that audience with the belief that a friend, co-worker, neighbor, hair stylist, manicurist, doctor or dentist might recognize Greig.
"We are trying to reach a different audience that will produce new leads in the case," said Richard Teahan, a Supervisory Special Agent who has been tracking Bulger since 2006. "Greig has certain habits, characteristics, and idiosyncrasies that are recognizable."
Greig has blue eyes, is 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a thin build when she fled. She is known to go by the aliases Helen Marshal and Carol Shapeton. According to the FBI, she loves animals, is likely to have well-kept teeth, likes to frequent beauty salons and has had multiple plastic surgeries.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Greig's whereabouts and a maximum reward of $2 million for information leading to the arrest of Bulger. Anyone with information about the couple is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or via the Internet.